5 Highlights from Hillary Clinton’s Women in World Summit Interview

Last Thursday, Hillary Clinton sat down to give an interview to the New York Times’ Nicholas Kristof at Tina Brown’s Women in the World Summit. It was her first interview since the election, under the light of a newfound liberation to speak her mind with as little strain as possible. The interview was raw and unguarded, especially compared to those she gave during the campaign. She was blunt as she addressed a number of topics ranging from President Trump’s policies to women’s rights around the world. Here are some of the highlights from her interview:

1. She believes sexism contributed to the election results.

Clinton, usually known to be monumentally careful in her language, was out of her shell, fully acknowledging the place misogyny had in the elections: “Certainly, misogyny played a role… I think in this election there was a very real struggle between what is viewed as change that is welcomed and exciting to so many Americans, and change which is worrisome and threatening to so many others.”

2. She believes women’s rights are under attack.

Clinton has always been careful not to push too hard on feminist buttons in order to avoid antagonizing ‘traditionalists’ and men. It is no secret, though, women’s rights is the issue she has always been most passionate about since her Yale Law School days. “The targeting of women — which is what is going on — is absolutely beyond any political agenda.There is something else happening here." Clinton went on to explain how the expanded global gag rule, the defunding of the United Nations Population Fund, and eliminating the federal funding for Planned Parenthood are the administration's systematic attacks on women's rights and health. "The impact that those dollars have is saving women and children’s lives and helping women have a better shot at a future… This is not just the right and moral position for the United States to take; this is our national security interest. The more we support women, the more we support democracy … Women’s issues are national security issues around the world.”

3. She acknowledges the double-edged sword of being a powerful woman .

As a walking case study for the way ambitious women are treated around the world, Clinton was bound to talk about both conscious and unconscious bias towards successful women. Clinton talked about the research portraying the difference between how successful men and women are perceived: “…Men’s ambition and success is correlated with likeability – the more successful a man is, the more likeable he becomes! With a woman, guess what? It’s the exact opposite. So the more successful and therefore ambitious a woman is, the less likable she becomes. That’s the inverse correlation that lies at the heart of a lot of the attacks and the misogyny. “

4. She counts on young women willing to change the world.

When asked about what advice she would give to young women everywhere, Clinton noted that she hopes the glass ceilings don’t dissuade young women from creating change in the world. “We really need you, and we need more young people and we particularly need more young women,” she said. “However, having said that, probably one of the first things I would say to them: Yeah, be ready. It is a not a new phenomenon but it feels new and painful every time it happens to you.”

5. She has a favourite meme.

When asked about the photo of Republican men discussing women’s health, Clinton mentioned her favourite internet meme that went viral recently. The picture is that of a group of dogs around a conference table, captioned, “today’s meeting on feline health care.”

“The things that come out of some of these men’s mouths — like, ‘Why do we have to cover maternity care?’ Well, I don’t know, maybe you were dropped by immaculate conception.”